Richard Abrams - University of Southern Maine, Portland, ME

Professor: Richard Abrams

Department: English

College: University of Southern Maine, Portland, ME

Rating # 1

Overview:

• Course: ENG101
• Grade Received: B+
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: Mandatory

Comment:

Silly man, brilliant teacher. All other Eng. professors try to teach about some philosophy, making it horrible to write about. Ricky? Let's talk about animals; videos and articles of the world's most intlgnt species. Easiest thing to write about ever. Throw them on the projector and edit them in front of the class. This man teaches people to write

Rating # 2

Overview:

• Course: 262
• Grade Received: A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: Yes
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Professor Abrams is the best professor I have had at USM. He makes classes interesting and fun. He is super polite and quiet, is respectful and open to other people's opinions. He gives wonderful feedback. He is a fast grader, and willing to talk to you about anything. He is very considerate. He is easy going and laid back. In short, he's great.

Rating # 3

Overview:

• Course: ENG360
• Grade Received: WD
• Overall Rating: 1.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: Yes
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: Not Mandatory

Comment:

Horrible experience

Rating # 4

Overview:

• Course: ENG262
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Abrams is eccentric and quirky, but very skilled in his discipline. Most of the poems/content is sex-related, so if you're shy or uncomfortable with such topics, you may want to avoid this class. He was open to adjusting the syllabus to include more poets that were women and/or people of color, which was nice. Tough grader; lots of feedback tho.

Rating # 5

Overview:

• Course: INTROTOLITERA
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Knowledgeable in literature & respected for it. But, more suited for Junior High students. Several angry outbursts, cursing and yelling at adult students for going to bathroom, discussing topic, etc. Asks for interpretation, then belittles and degrades your view making concentration and willingness to participate in conversation difficult. Beware!

Rating # 6

Overview:

• Course: ENG351
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Professor Abrams is enthusiastic and knowledgeable. He expects the best from his students and is eager to help them in the process. Class participation is a critical element, as is attendance, and one must do the readings to do well. His quirky sense of humor provides levity to the challenging material from time to time.

Rating # 7

Overview:

• Course: ENG262
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

I thought that he was a helpful professor, but difficult. As long as you attended class regularly and did the assignments it was ok. He is also HUGE on class participation

Rating # 8

Overview:

• Course: ENG262
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 1.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

His class was very easy, and while he is easily distracted by owls, he understands poetry. He does know what he's talking about, and students need to understand that. If you listen to him, and write his papers like how he explains the texts in class, expect an A. The final was difficult, however, so expect to study for it.

Rating # 9

Overview:

• Course: ENG262
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

He's tough but kind. If you try hard and participate you will do well.

Rating # 10

Overview:

• Course: ENG210
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

I thought Prof Abrams is a great teacher! Yes, he's tough, but what do expect? This is college after all! You have to earn your place in the world, grades aren't given to you. I enjoyed the material and appreciated his interest level in student achievement. Teachers like him that actually care are few and far between.

Rating # 11

Overview:

• Course: ENG262
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

I think people are a little too tough on this prof. He is insistent on his positions because he knows what he's talking about. We too easily think that poetry is open to interpretation when that simply is not true. I thought his grading was very fair and he is lightning fast in his responsiveness.

Rating # 12

Overview:

• Course: ENG150
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.5
• Course Difficulty: 5.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

For Topics, Abrams teaches about Bob Dylan. This is NOT an easy A. Quizzes daily on specific lyrics and references. A few papers. He's passionate and genuine, but a very hard grader.

Rating # 13

Overview:

• Course: ENG120
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 1.5
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

This was one of the worst professors I have EVER had, and I consider myself a fairly tolerant person. He teaches everything in a right or wrong fashion and leaves no room for interpretation. I love English and I was hoping to be stimulated by this class. Instead he spent classing going over our assigned readings page by page. Extremely dull.

Rating # 14

Overview:

• Course: ENG150
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.0
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

knowledgable but if your interpretation is not his then look out. tough teacher with hie grades and expectations but it was also very interesting. I really liked him even though i was so stressed out.

Rating # 15

Overview:

• Course: ENG262
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

He returns papers quickly but I think his grading is harsh. He has an opinion and if yours is different he will find a way to point out that it is wrong. He wants papers based on what is in the text, not on what is interpreted into the text, while he will add interpretations that are necessary to support his own opinions, students should not.

Rating # 16

Overview:

• Course: ENG0001
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 3.5
• Course Difficulty: 2.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

The man! or should i say The Dude. Abrams is great. He cares about learning over grades, is fun, has an absurd amount of knowledge to share, and is one if not the most fun and enthusiastic teachers you will ever have.

Rating # 17

Overview:

• Course: INTROLIT
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 2.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

maybe it was because i just really had no interest, but i thought this guy was kind of annoying. he told us we'd have no quizzes, and the next class we have a pop quiz. i dont mind quizzes im not complaining, but if im told im not having them thats what i plan on. wouldnt be my first choice--but youll survive!

Rating # 18

Overview:

• Course: ENG360
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 5.0
• Course Difficulty: 4.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

Great professor- you must do your work, devote your time to learning and you will be rewarded. If you are looking for something challenging and thought provoking then this is your guy, if you are looking for an easy class- don't sign up.

Rating # 19

Overview:

• Course: ENG354
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: Yes
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

I see lots of people on here squawking about him, but I thought his class was great fun. It's true that he has a pretty firm idea about what's what, but you know what...he knows a lot more about this stuff than you do. Get over it.

Rating # 20

Overview:

• Course: ENG262
• Grade Received: N/A
• Overall Rating: 4.5
• Course Difficulty: 3.0

• For Credit: N/A
• Textbook Used: No
• Would Take Again: N/A
• Attendance: N/A

Comment:

I really enjoyed his class. He is entertaining.